After You was named a Semi-Finalist in the 10 by 10 in the Triangle Short Play Festival in Carrboro, NC!
The Louboutin at plumage.'s 5-10: Still Winter!
The Louboutin was presented at plumage.'s 5-10: Still Winter on March 9, 2015.
It featured Irene Rivera & Rachel Lin and was directed by Eric Powell Holm.
It was an evening of 6 10-minute plays featuring the talents of the plumage. writers. It was a packed house and evening full of connective lines and references to the cold. Thanks to everyone who came out!
We Are Samurai Published in Fourth Wall Review
We Are Samurai is being published in Fourth Wall Review's 2014 Winter Issue. Fourth Wall Review is a print and online journal of plays, essays, interviews, audio, film and art.
Check it out here!
We're Devising: American Mythology
It's happening. Elana McKelahan of Highly Impractical Theater and I are teaming up to bring you an amazing immersive devised piece of theater. Coming to a theater near you, likely in Spring of 2016. Or so. We'll see.
But until then, check back here for updates/photos/and snippets as we work to bring you a piece of theater all about our American values, mythologies and history. It's going to be insane, unbelievable, and a whole lot of everything. Much like our nation itself.
We are Samurai named a 2014 Best Play from DCMetro Theater Arts!
Huge congrats to Deborah Randall, Venus Theater, and the AMAZING cast of We are Samurai for this lovely accolade. Y'all ARE the best.
5-10: Thanks for Loving (and eventually Leaving, appropriately, at the right moment)!
Thanks to everyone who came out to plumage.'s first 5-10: Loving & Leaving!
It was night full of great work, exciting stories, and one very full theater. My piece After You, was presented alongside some truly excellent work. Lesson: Relationships are hard. Or to quote the indelible Taylor Swift, life makes love look hard.
You all rock. Check out some photos from the event.
After You in plumage.'s 5-10
After You will be part of plumage.'s 5-10: Loving and Leaving, a night of 5 10-minute plays based around a theme. Karen Eilbacher will be directing the amazing talents of Rachel Lin, Matthew Jeffers, Jordan Ho, and Lynnese Page. It should be a spectacularly fun night- come check it out!
Samurai at Venus: Thank You
Samurai is done at Venus Theatre!
And it was awesome. A huge thanks to Deb, to the amazing cast, crew, and design-composition team. Check out the photos and the page here.
What beauty. What fun. What Samurai. Thank you all for your time, talent, and energy.
Untameable at Marrow's Edge Salon Series
Thanks to everyone who came out to see Marrow Edge's Writer Group Salon Series reading of Untameable! It was a great event, with amazing talent, energy, and a great old diamond heist romp.
The open reading was the third reading to celebrate the culmination of the Marrows Edge Writers Group.
Check out the Untameable Page for full event info.
Deb Randall on We are Samurai in Theatre Bloom
Director Deborah Randall talks on We Are Samurai to Theatre Bloom:
Can you tell us a little bit about this production We Are Samurai?
Deb: There are two ways to really talk about it. One is the convention of the play which is that it takes place in five different locations at one time, sometimes simultaneously. So that’s really fascinating, that drew my interests. The other thing to look at is that it’s written by one of my youngest playwrights, she just turned 26. She studied under Erik Ehn and she sort of gives permission in this new way to experience theatre.
I feel like when we’re raised with libraries and Dewy Decimal systems for reading novels it’s very different from people of the younger generation who grew up with the internet, who were constantly exposed to information. I think that sort of wires the brain in a different way and it makes you look at things differently if you’re from the newer generation where everything is always happening all at once. That’s the rhythm and tempo of this play; somebody who is thinking of a lot of different things all at once.
It gives you a lot of permission to reinterpret the experience of theatre. For eight years I’ve been in this location, shutting the doors, just wanting to do the work. Sort of like Virginia Woolf, in a room of one’s own. So Daria (playwright Daria Marinelli) has sort of challenged me to fling the doors open and invite everybody in and tell them to leave their cell phones on and have them talk to my actors and break every rule that I’ve fought to maintain. I’m challenged by that.
How do you think this show in particular speaks to the mission statement of your company?
Deb: Like I said, the writer is so young and so brave. I feel like we’re giving her an opportunity that she might not otherwise have. Then we’re pulling in two extra women where before there were three and now there are five. The sexuality between the women is really empowering in a way. After the last production here, Light of Night, it was so dark and sexual in a scary way. For me it was these people in isolation desperately needing to make contact and that’s where the sensuality and sexuality was grounded in that show. But I think for these young women it’s empowering to them to stand in who they are in their sensuality and sexuality without being objectified. That this is just an extension of their expression; to me it’s almost like a moving painting. It’s something that’s really beautiful that flows through them.
Read the full article here.
Or go see the show! Tickets here.
We are Samurai Opens at Venus to Rave Reviews!
We are Samurai has opened at Venus Theater in Laurel, MD.
Here's what the critics are saying:
The experience is incredible; unlike anything you will experience this season anywhere in Washington. -Amanda Gunther, Theatre Bloom
If it sounds like an Ionesco SUSHI roll stuffed with Kafka and sprinkled with patchouli oil, you’re in the ballpark. The chaos of We Are Samuraiis belied by the tight, well-rehearsed performances of the cast. Director Deborah Randall extracts sincere feelings of love, jealousy, rage, and grief from underneath the stylized staging. - Michael Poandl, DC Metro Theatre Arts
Between moving among the scenes and the inquisitiveness that the mystery requires, We Are Samurai is not for audience members who want to be ensconced in darkness and enveloped by the play's plot. This play is for gamers, choose-your-own-adventure enthusiasts, and people who never stopped poking things with a stick when they were children. -Alan Katz, Broadway World
But there are fractals of meaning scattered throughout. An eye for an eye and whatnot. How flimsy justifications can provoke rash, unusual actions. INDEED, the meaning loops back around on the experience itself—how a person’s choice of what to witness actually shapes the play she sees. -Jennifer Clements,
If you're anywhere near Laurel, DC friends, I'm looking at you! Go check it out!
You can buy your tickets here.
We are Samurai at Venus: Two Weeks Left to Fundraise!
Theater can be spectacular, moving, immersive, awe inspiring, and full out mind blowing. But theater needs money. (As you know.)
Venus Theater, one of the oldest women's theaters in the country, is doing We are Samurai in ways I find truly amazing, thrilling, and exciting. And then need a bit of money. The actors are amazing. (I've never laughed so hard hearing my work.) The director, Deborah Randall, is genius. This show is going to rock. But it needs YOU.
Anything you can give, I thank you.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/venus50
Photo courtesy of Adam S. Lowe. His amazing We are Samurai gallery can be found here.
We are Samurai at Venus Theater!
Took the long drive down to Laurel, MD to meet with Deborah Randall, Artistic Director and Director of We Are Samurai at Venus Theater. Great dinner and chatting, amazing first read-through, fun with photobooth and some great movement work to top it off. Amazing actors. I was laughing so hard I was crying. I can't wait to see the final product in September!
If you're anywhere near anything in Maryland, come check it out!
Tickets here.
Untameable at MEWG Closed Readings
May Soirée with Marrow's Edge
From Marrow's Edge:
A huge thanks to everyone who came out and supported us on May 11th! As promised, there were amazing people, delicious treats, and fantastic views- both of the city and our upcoming season. We also announced our newest member- Tess Avitabile!
After You a Semi-Finalist
After You was selected as a semi-finalist in the Rover Dramawerks Play Contest! Slowly all those first dates in NYC begin to pay off.
Come May Soirée!
You're invited!
Come join us on:
May 11th, 2014
4:00-8:00pm
33 West End Ave, NYC
FOR OUR SEASON KICK-OFF PARTY AND FUNDRAISER!
Classy Cocktails. Summer Beer. Killer Views of Manhattan. Outdoor Afternoon Festivities. Sneak Peeks of Hot New Plays. Our May Soiree.
$15 donation at the door to help support our 2014 Season.
We can't wait to see you there.
RSVP here.
After You in the 2014 Pink Banana One Acts Festival
After You, was selected to be part of the 2014 Pink Banana One Acts Festival in Milwaukee, WI!
After You is a girl meets boy story about getting over the one that got away. The festival will run June 5, 2014 - June 14, 2014.
Details here.
Q&A for Venus Theater
As part of Venus Theater's 2014 Season, Deb asked me to do a Video Q&A on We Are Samurai.
For your viewing pleasure:
We Are Samurai at Venus Theater
Venus Theatre announced their 2014 Season. And We Are Samurai is part of it.
Laurel, MD. Fall 2014.
Sharpen your swords.
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